Traboules Of Lyon

In the 5th district or Vieux Lyon most of the streets run parallel to the river making it difficult to get from one street to the next without making huge detours. So courtyards and passageway were designed making lots of shortcuts. This also helped the workers who would move their produce through these covered walkways. Therefore avoiding the often awful weather.

During the Second World War these passage ways were used by the resistance for secret meetings preventing the Nazis from occupying the whole of Lyon.

There are over 400 of these Traboules however only 40 are open to the public. We entered several and walked from street to street. The streets are noisy and busy yet once inside the Traboule it’s so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No wonder the Nazis had no clue of these hidden walkways – traboules.

The staircases leading up to the different levels are made of stone and each one had a wrought iron gate in the “foyer”. Making it safe for residents.

The walkways are narrow and dark then open up to beautiful courtyards. Water fountains are in nearly every courtyard. One resident even had a chandelier hanging in their little garden.

One of the walkways we went through was the 27 Rue St Jean connecting with 6 Rue des Trois Maries.

You can do a self guided tour of the Traboules, keep a look out for the picture of the Lion and an arrow. Or you can organize a guided tour. It’s a 2 hour walk and approximately 12 euros.

The longest traboule in Lyon runs between 54 Rue Saint-Jean and 27 Rue du Bœuf, and a famously picturesque traboule begins at 9 Place Colbert/14 bis montee Saint Sebastion, and features a historic six-story external staircase.

It was a very hot day in Lyon last August however once inside the traboule the air was cool and refreshing.

The stairwell tower Memories of LyonSee the thickness of the door. Please ignore the partial blue shirt. Its so narrow and tight that its hard to get a photo without someing being in it. The arm belongs to our guide.

The archway above the stairs, you can just see the top of the gate in the pictureJust look at the colors of this amazing Traboule in Lyon stone stepsUnusual stone steps with the wrought iron gate

The traboules are dark with filtered light.

Chandlier at the entrance to one residents home. Look at the huge thick doorway

Stone stepsWater fountainsJust look at this door, I wonder what is behind it?Amazing architecture of Lyon